Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Bull

Bulls are the male version of cows. They play a large role in supplying beef and milk. Bulls, as males usually are, are very strong and are bigger than the female, the cow. Their bones are typically larger and thicker. They have a very strong neck, which upholds their big horns.

Being big helps them herd the females, as that is often their job. Most people make the common mistake at bullfighting games that it is the color red that angers the bull and signals it to charge. This, however, isn't true, as the bull is color blind like the rest of animals. It is actually the movement of the cape and/or flag that triggers the bull.

A copper ring is usually inserted in the bulls' nose to help keep it under control. The rings is then tied to a bull staff, which is almost always used in handling bulls. One magazine states:  "Handle [the bull] with a staff and take no chances. The gentle bull, not the vicious one, most often kills or maims his keeper". 
*Taken from Wikipedia, no copywrite infringement intended
Bulls have held a place of significance in human culture since before the beginning of recorded history. They appear in cave paintings estimated to be up to 17,000 years old. The mythic Bull of the Heavens plays a role in the ancient Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, dating as far back as 2150 BC. The importance of the bull is reflected in its appearance in the zodiac as Taurus, and its numerous appearances in mythology, where it is often associated with fertility. In Hinduism, a bull named Nandi, usually depicted seated, is worshipped as the vehicle of the god Shiva. Symbolically, the bull appears commonly in heraldry, and, in modern times, as a mascot for both amateur and professional sports teams.

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